Shortage of chefs at 'crisis point'

The shortage of chefs throughout the country has reached “crisis point” despite the recession, the Restaurant Association of Ireland has claimed.

The association’s chief executive Adrian Cummins said not enough chefs were coming through the ranks and agencies such as Fás, Skillsnets and Fáilte Ireland did not understand the extent of the problem.

Mr Cummins said an immediate training fund needed to be made available to employers so that the huge demand for chefs of all grades could be met.

He said there was now a crisis in the shortage of chefs and an investment in training was needed. An immediate training fund needed to be made available to employers so that the huge demand for chefs of all grades could be met.

“We’ve been trying to provide a solution to the problem since April 2012 but it hasn’t been heard,” Mr Cummins added. “The crisis we’re facing into and the shortage of chefs are having a devastating effect on restaurants trying to cope in the recession.”

The association has proposed that a tax be placed on video games and the money reinvested into educating young people about nutrition, healthy eating and exercise. However, it is against the introduction of sugar and fat tax proposals.

It has also called for the retention of the VAT rate of 9 per cent for the tourism industry.